Şebnem Oğuz · ODORGO founder · Last updated: October 5, 2026
You turn the key, push the door open, and the smell meets you like a wall: heavy, stale, a little moldy. The house has been shut for months and it wants you to know.
Cologne and room spray push it back for a few hours. Then it returns. The smell has several sources, and each needs its own small job.
Why does a closed-up house smell like this?
The air does not move. Moisture cannot get out, and porous things take it in along with the odors: curtains, sofas, mattresses, carpets, wood.
Then there are the drains. The water in the bathroom and kitchen traps evaporates over the months, and sewer odor rises through the dry pipe. A fridge left closed adds its own share.
What should you do on the first day?
| Source | What to do | ODORGO product |
|---|---|---|
| Stale, still air | Open every window and door, get a cross-draft going | None needed |
| Drain odor from dry traps | Pour water into bathroom, kitchen and floor drains | None needed |
| Sofas, beds, carpets | Air them, then spray and let dry | Odor Eliminator Spray 250 ml |
| Curtains and bed covers | Wash with one capful in the detergent drawer | Multi-Purpose Liquid 500 ml |
| Walls, floors, inside closets | Wipe with 15 mL per 1 liter of water | Multi-Purpose Liquid 500 ml |
| Closets and rooms after you settle in | Leave a gel standing flat, lid open | Odor Eliminator Gel 250 g |
How do you remove the odor step by step?
- Air the whole house. Open all the windows and doors, facing ones if you can, so the air crosses.
- Pour water into the drains. A glass of water in each sink, shower and floor drain refills the trap. A large part of the smell stops here.
- Air the textiles. Take curtains, bed covers and sofa cushions out into the sun, or hang them by an open window.
- Spray the fabrics. Shake ODORGO Odor Eliminator Spray 250 ml well and spray sofas, mattresses, carpets and the air. Let it dry. Repeat where the odor is stubborn.
- Wipe the surfaces. Add 15 mL of ODORGO Multi-Purpose Odor Eliminator Liquid 500 ml to each liter of water for floors, walls and closet interiors. For the washable textiles, put one capful in the detergent drawer along with your detergent.
- Place the gels. Set ODORGO Odor Eliminator Gel 250 g flat in the closets, the bedrooms and the damp corners and open the lid. No outlet, no batteries.
The spray is water-based; you can use it on any surface that water does not harm. On water-sensitive fabrics and surfaces (unfinished or untreated wood, silk, leather, electronics, etc.), test on a small hidden area first.
What about damp patches and mold?
If you find black or green marks on a wall or behind a wardrobe, clean them first with water and white vinegar and dry the surface. ODORGO is an odor eliminator, not a mold cleaner.
For the storage room under the house or the space under the roof, see mildew and musty odors in basements and attics. For damp that affects every room, how to eliminate musty odors at the source goes into the causes.
How do you stop the odor from building up while you are away?
- Empty the fridge and leave its door ajar.
- Take out the trash.
- Top up the drains with water one last time.
- Leave gels in the closets and rooms, standing flat and still. In enclosed areas of up to 15 m² such as a closet a gel lasts up to 30 days; a house with many rooms can be topped up with ODORGO Odor Eliminator Gel Refill 500 g.
How does ODORGO work, and what is in it?
The plant-derived essential oils (pine needle, anise, clove, cedarwood and lime) in the water-based formula attract odor molecules, bind them and neutralize them. The technology is rooted in research at Delaware State University in the USA.
The fragrance-free, phthalate-free, paraben-free, dye-free, sulfate-free, and alcohol-free claims are verified by tests conducted at laboratories accredited by TÜRKAK (Turkish Accreditation Agency) and ILAC (International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation). The manufacturer declares that no toxins or harsh chemicals are used in the formula. The spray and gel reach up to 98% odor elimination effectiveness. The spray, gel and Multi-Purpose Liquid are vegan.
Keep your summer house fresh from the first step inside
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you remove the odor from a house that has been closed for months?
Air every room, pour water into the dry drains and air the textiles. Then spray the fabrics with ODORGO spray, wipe the surfaces with Multi-Purpose Liquid in the water and leave a gel in closets and rooms.
Where does the smell come from when I first open the door?
From several sources at once: air that has not moved for months, trapped moisture, sewer odor from dried-out drain traps and odor held in the textiles.
Why is a room spray not enough?
Because it masks the odor with another scent. The source is still there, so the smell returns within hours.
How do I prevent the odor before I leave?
Empty the fridge and leave its door ajar, take out the trash, pour water into the drains and leave gels in the closets and rooms.
Does ODORGO clean mold?
No. ODORGO is an odor eliminator, not a mold cleaner. Clean visible mold first, for example with water and white vinegar; ODORGO then neutralizes the odor left behind.
How long does the gel last?
Up to 30 days in enclosed areas of up to 15 m² such as closets and drawers. It needs no outlet or batteries.